Congressman Neguse Leads Bipartisan Call for Immediate Action on Behalf of Unpaid Soldiers

Lafayette, CO — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, joined by Representative Doug Lamborn (R – Colorado Springs), penned a letter to General Daniel R. Hokanson, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, requesting that the National Guard take immediate action to disburse outstanding enlistment bonuses to soldiers who have made the commitment to serve in the National Guard. Their letter follows reports that thousands of National Guard troops have not received promised enlistment bonuses, and that nearly 4,000 service members have left the military without being paid promised bonuses. Enlistment bonuses are promised to new soldiers who commit to six years of service and earn high-level scores on their Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. New recruits can be eligible for up to $20,000.

National Guard troops are tasked with state and federal functions, and often called up to respond to state-level emergencies, including natural disasters like wildfires and flooding. In 2021, Colorado called on the Army National Guard to assist in state response to the devastating Marshall Fire. National Guard Soldiers supported impacted neighborhoods in Superior, Louisville, and unincorporated Boulder County. The Marshall Fire, which began on December 30, 2021, claimed over 1,000 homes, and caused an estimated $2 billion in total damages, making it the most devastating and costliest fire in Colorado history.

“In short, our offices are tracking reports that the National Guard is currently behind in fulfilling its promise to pay at least 12,000 soldiers their enlistment bonuses. Missing these payments can result in severe financial hardships and frustration for soldiers and their families. As you know, the enlistment bonuses which amount to as much as $20,000, are a pivotal component of the Army National Guard's recruitment strategy and a solemn commitment we make to our soldiers. In addition to being severely damaging to recruitment, the delay of payments is counteractive to the Army National Guard’s goal of retaining 37,000 soldiers. Beyond the issues of recruitment and retention, the prolonged delays in bonus payments undermine the trust and morale of our soldiers,” the lawmakers wrote. 

The letter continued: “We implore the National Guard to take immediate and decisive action to rectify these pay problems. It is unacceptable that we have soldiers who have served their country honorably, fulfilled their commitments, and yet are left waiting for the bonuses they rightfully earned.”

Read the full letter HERE and below. 

Congressman Neguse has been a strong advocate for veterans and service members across America. On Veterans Day this year, Congressman Neguse joined local veterans, servicemembers, and their families at the Windsor American Legion. Rep. Neguse surprised eighty-year-old Vietnam Veteran, Ed Sharp, with replacement medals honoring his time in service. Mr. Sharp lost his medals during the Marshall Fire. Rep. Neguse also recently wrote to two federal agencies requesting increased protections for VA benefits and the revision of existing program applications which unintentionally impede veterans seeking additional support for themselves and their families. Read more on those letters HERE.

November 15, 2023

General Daniel Hokanson Chief
National Guard Bureau 11 S George Mason Drive Arlington, Virginia 22204

Dear General Daniel Hokanson,

We write to request that the National Guard immediately take the necessary steps to disburse all outstanding enlistment bonuses to soldiers who have completed their service.

In short, our offices are tracking reports that the National Guard is currently behind in fulfilling its promise to pay at least 12,000 soldiers their enlistment bonuses. Missing these payments can result in severe financial hardships and frustration for soldiers and their families. As you know, the enlistment bonuses which amount to as much as $20,000, are a pivotal component of the Army National Guard's recruitment strategy and a solemn commitment we make to our soldiers. In addition to being severely damaging to recruitment, the delay of payments is counteractive to the Army National Guard’s goal of retaining 37,000 soldiers. Beyond the issues of recruitment and retention, the prolonged delays in bonus payments undermine the trust and morale of our soldiers.

It’s our understanding that the primary cause of this problem is the performance of the Army National Guard Incentive Management System (GIMS), which was introduced in 2012. Existing issues related to acute staffing shortages and training deficiencies were exacerbated by two long- term catastrophic outages resulting in the current backlog of payments.

We implore the National Guard to take immediate and decisive action to rectify these pay problems. It is unacceptable that we have soldiers who have served their country honorably, fulfilled their commitments, and yet are left waiting for the bonuses they rightfully earned.

The importance of the National Guard cannot be understated. The Guard plays a vital role within the U.S. military, possessing a distinctive capability to address both domestic emergencies and international conflicts. Our offices stand ready to work with you to reform the GIMS and ensure we fulfill the promises we made to our dedicated soldiers and their families. We ask that you provide us with a written update in 60 days detailing the National Guard’s efforts to resolve this issue and an estimation of when all outstanding payments will be distributed.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to your immediate action and resolution of this issue.

Sincerely,

###